The Charlotte County Master Gardeners annual FloraFest will be held Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.at the extension office in Charlotte Court House.

Plants, lectures and a bite to eat will be available.

The free lectures are always a popular part of FloraFest. “All about Lavender” will be the first lecture at 9 a.m. Bonnie Swanson, of Evergreen Lavender Farm, will discuss the culinary, health, beauty and decorative qualities of the lavender plant. Katie Martin, from the Department of Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries, will present “The American Black Bear” at 10 a.m.

The presentation will include the habitat and habits of the black bear as it relates to Southside Virginia.

Saturday is an ideal time to plant most of the plants available at FloraFest. There will be perennials, annuals, shrubs, roses, herbs and vegetables. 

Among the perennials there will be peonies, blackberry lilies, Oriental lilies, Siberian iris, flag iris, hellebores, Dutchman’s britches, Solomon’s seal, liriope, Russian sage, daisies, sedum, autumn aster, bee balm, bell flowers, obedient plant, hostas, sun drops and step-on ground cover.

Shrubs will include snow ball, beauty berry, fothergilla, forsythia, lilac, bridal wreath, winter jasmine and rose of Sharon. There will be basil, parsley and mints and other herbs. There will be tomatoes and peppers as well as other vegetables. One may want to wait a week or so before planting vegetables and annuals.

A raffle and food also will be available. For only one dollar one can purchase a raffle ticket. The raffle items include a handmade wooden gathering tray, a hand-woven basket and pottery. The Southside Virginia Herb Society will sell sandwiches and snacks, herb plants, herbal vinegars and herbal booklets at Village Presbyterian Church from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Survey your garden, review the flower catalogues, dream about spring and summer, imagine your garden enhanced by purchases from FloraFest. Propagated and grown by our local Charlotte County master gardeners, these plants will have a great chance for success in area gardens. The event will take place  rain or shine.  Remember, too, that May 8 is Mother’s Day. Proceeds from FloraFest fund scholarships and grants for students from Charlotte County.